Postpartum Hair Loss: Causes, Timeline & What to Expect

Question
I am 32 years old; I gave birth to my first child 10/11/2005.  I had a c-section and an epidural and I have been shedding a lot of hair.  I've heard that epidurals contribute to hair loss and I've also heard that you shed hair since you weren't losing hair during the pregnancy.  Oh, and by the way, I'm also on medication (labetalol) for post partum hypertension.  How long should I expect to be losing my hair?

Answer
Hair loss is not due to the epidural, but is due to the pregnancy itself. Every woman loses hair for a short period of time after the delivery of her baby (whether by cesarean or vaginal delivery). The hair will definitely grow back and will be thicker than before. Don't worry. You should stop losing hair within a few months. Lebetalol is an excellent medication to control hypertension. Good luck. Enjoy your baby.